Would you buy a Chinese-made Brooks clone?

[Jezrant]

Curious to hear peep's opinions on this one. Popped into a well-known shop the other day (happens to be my LBS) looking for a new B17 to replace a Pro I sold on this forum. The chappie at the counter said they were planning to market their own Chinese-made leather saddles that would cost less than a Brooks. He thought they could sell tons of them. I suppose this is just the way the industry works these days with enterprising businesses undercutting each other with cheap imports from China, but I hope in this case it doesn't succeed. Brooks may have Italian owners, but they still make their very fine saddles in this very fine country. It would be very sad to see those jobs and skills lost. Just my opinion.

[hamster]

It all depends on whether you are the sort of person who buys fake designer stuff or not I guess.

[georgew]

It's not really surprising that the Chinese should try to grab a bit of the market when one witnesses the astronomical price rises in the past few years of Brooks saddles. To be expected I would think.

[snibgo]

I'm surprised nobody's done this already. I would have thought that good leather saddles, retailing at £20-£30, would have a good market.

Why isn't it done? Perhaps I'm wrong about the market, or they can't be made at that price.

[tatanab]

The chappie at the counter said they were planning to market their own Chinese-made leather saddles that would cost less than a Brooks.

He's a bit slow off the mark http://www.cardiffltd.com/index.html have been rebranding saddles for some time (I think they are Sobdeall saddles from Tiawan). You can find Sobdeall saddles on ebay. I think Cardiff have aimed themselves at the American market.

[Ribblehead]

It would be very sad to see those jobs and skills lost. Just my opinion.

Exactly, when it's gone, it's gone. Support it or lose it.

For a classic item such as a Brooks saddle I'd buy the original.

[WrightsW5]

Depends which China, from the one under communist occupation, I had one of those Flying Pigeon saddles, terrible! I gave it away. Any saddle from Free China (Taiwan) i'd be glad to try.

[snibgo]

He's a bit slow off the mark http://www.cardiffltd.com/index.html have been rebranding saddles for some time ...

I was prepared to argue that faux-Brooks would have to be priced at about 40% of the cheapest Brooks to succeed and take a significant share of the leather saddle market. But those Cardiff jobbies are around 80%. So either they don't succeed, or I know nothing about marketing.

Hint: never ask me about marketing.

(Of course, I would also be sad if Brooks went away. But some competition might do them some good.)

[andrew_s]

I think Cardiff have aimed themselves at the American market.

That's because they are American. The only connection with Wales is the name and a bit of history. There are also other US bike shops doing similar own-brand versions of the Taiwanese saddles (eg Velo Orange).

Going the other way in the market, I just got a Gilles Berthoud saddle to try out. It's got 6.5mm thick leather, compared to a Brooks Team Pro at 4.5mm. I'd guess it will take a lot of breaking in

[hubgearfreak]

I would have thought that good leather saddles, retailing at £20-£30, would have a good market.

they're not good though. somewhere in the togglechain thread graham recounts the story of the one he bought. it was so rubbish, he couldn't give it away and it went in the bin.

buy a brooks -cost £60, or get a cheap & nasty copy followed by buying a brooks later - cost £90

[tatanab]

Going the other way in the market, I just got a Gilles Berthoud saddle to try out. It's got 6.5mm thick leather, compared to a Brooks Team Pro at 4.5mm. I'd guess it will take a lot of breaking in

As well as various Brooks I have a Gilles Berthoud Aspin. I've only done 7 or 800 miles on it so far and it has been absolutely superb straight from the box. If I were in the market for another saddle I would certainly look to France.

[HPFlashman]

Buy once - cry once...

Have had a bit of experience with some Chinese nylon gear, both real china and rebrands, and wouldnt buy Chinese stuff meant to be used hard. Only exception from this is Fenix torches and possibly Magicshine. You know those companies are up to something good when the Chinese fly by night companies copies them...

[Joe.B]

It would be very sad to see those jobs and skills lost. Just my opinion.

Exactly, when it's gone, it's gone. Support it or lose it.

For a classic item such as a Brooks saddle I'd buy the original.

I'm often happy to pay a little extra to support british industry. Buying British ensures a better level of customer service too IMO, I've had some suberb help and advice from Thorn, ICE, Dawes and just this afternoon from Royce Engineering (British built bottom brackets).
The French and Germans are far better than us at doing this, just drive through either country and look at the cars they drive.

[travelling]

I would only buy a brooks for touring and for that I've yet to find better. My current one is 4 years old so money vs time owned a tenna a year and still going makes a lot of sense.

On my MTB however the charge spoon saddle is earning some respect

[vjosullivan]

Curious to hear peep's opinions on this one.

It's no good asking people. They'll always say they want the good stuff and say that they are happy to pay a bit more for it. The only place that counts is the counter, where people always want the cheap stuff and are happy to pay less for it.

Look at EasyJet (et al.). Do people 'want' to fly with them?